Knitted headwear



Jan.. 26, 1932. L, H ENSTEN 1,842,513

KNITTED HEADWEAR Filed March 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Louis PL Egbtzg L :D weze-)boar `3am. 26, 1932. L. H. ENsTEN KNITTED HEADWEAR Filed March 14, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'tt-ergenis Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES LOUIS H. ENSTEN, OF CLEVELAND, UHIO KNITTED HEADWE'AR Application led March 14, 1929. Serial No. 346,937.

This invention relates to knitted headwear and has for its object the provision of a new and improved helmet capable of being knitted on a `fiat machine, cut with an absolute minimum of waste, sewed with a minimum i of seams, and clinging tightly and pleasantly 'to the head in formfitting relation; the provision of a fiat-knitted helmet which shall fit the head at all times, while substantially free ie from overlapping or multiple-ply portions; the provision of a simple knitted article of headwear which can be used successfully as a plain cap when the throat-latch portions arc folded upwardly; while further objects and advantages of the invention will become ap parent as the description proceeds.

ln the accompanying drawings l have shown some of the characteristic features of my invention. Fig. 1 illustrates the article in use as a helmet; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the article removed; Fig. 3 illustrates the nature of the swatch from which the major part of the article is made; Fig. 4 illustrates 'the swatch preferably employed for the eartabs; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the article as it appears without ear-tabs; Fig. 6 is a rear-elevation of the article with ear-tabs; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation with ear-tabs both up and down,

.Fundamentally my improved helmet is made .much as illustrated and claimed in my Patent No. 1,313,080. A liat swatch is first made on a knitting machine as shown in Fig. 3. In such a machine it is customary that the frame carrying the work is racked laterally simultaneously with each forward step, so that each stitch is diagonally located with reference to the preceding stitch. The width of the swatch or band which is knitted at one time depends, of course, upon the number of needles simultaneously employed. lVe will assume that we start with forty-five needles, and at iii-st rack the machine continuously sidewise in one direction for a short time, as for example ten stitches, thereby producing the narrow band 10 shown in Fig. 3. Next for a somewhat longer period of time, for example twenty stitches, the frame is racked alternately behind successive stitches, so as to form in effect a straight ribbon 11. Then the machine is set to become racked laterally as at 10, but for a longer time, as for example twenty-tive stitches, producing the diagonal band 12. Next the racking of the frame is reversed for the saine number of stitches producing the diagonal band 13. Next the machine is racked oppositely at alternate stitches to make the straight band 14, for example forty stitches. Following` is a band 15 where the machine racks continuously in one direction, as at 12, except for a shorter time, as for fifteen stitches. This covers half a swatch. Next after the strip 15 the machine is racked backward the same number of stitches as shown at 16; next alternating right and left to form a straight band 17 similar to 14; next two diagonals 18 and 19 correspond ing to 13 and 12 respectively; then a strip 2U exactly like 11; and finally a narrow strip 21 corresponding to a strip 10 but racked in the opposite direction.

The part described constitutes the portion necessary to make one cap. The machine being properly adjusted and fed continues to produce this pattern indefinitely. The product is cut up into sections as shown in Fig. 3, excepting that the upper corners of the strips 10 and 21 are severed as shown at 22, which constitutes the only waste. The raw edges 23, 23 thus produced are sewn firmly together j to produce a seam 25 at the back of the head; the edges 26, 26 are brought together and also the edges 27, 27 and sewed in a straight seam 27a which extends a short distance in front of the crown. The margins 28, 28 are brought together and likewise the margins 29, 29 and bd sewed, producing two lateral seams 30 which form in effect continuations of each other perpendicular to the seams 25 and 27a. The portions 31, 31 are brought together and seamed, 90

which seam constitutes an extension of the seam 25.

Thus far the cap is substantially that of my Patent No. 1,313,080, excepting for the straight strips 11, 14, 17, and 20, which are employed to space the earlap portions further apart, and avoid such deep indentations.

This is also permissible when a separate throat-latch or ear-tab is employed and these are also preferably produced as shown in F ig. 100

4 in the form of a single swatch consisting of alternate strips 32 racked in one direction and reverse strips 33 racked in the opposite direction. The swatch thus made is linally severed centrally from end to end as shown at 34, and the separate tabs 36 severed by cuts at 35, 35. Each tab 36 is also, preferably before severing, provided with a. button-hole 37 near the point, and is then sewed to the margin of the cap. The method of this sewing is, however, very important. The cap, when made. as above described, exhibits a very peculiar and characteristic degree of elasticity especiallyl around its free or lower margin. The spring; iness of knit-goods, coupled with the sinuous marginal line produces a device which grips the head tightly at all points, and adapts itself to large variations in head-size. In order to retain this elasticity, the` seaming ofthe tab to the cap is effected, not along the outline of the tab, but alongthe outline of the cap as shown at 38 and 39 in Figs. 2 and 7. When the tab is wider than the depending ear-lap, the portion 40-40 outside the same as shown in Fig. 7, can also be seained tightly; but it is important that the straight portion 4l be not thus seamed. This portion is preferably concealed inside the cap, and its severed end is at least overcast to prevent ravelling, and

is preferably seamed to the cap, as shown in Fig. 2. F or this purpose an elastic seam is employed along the straight portion 4l, and is applied in such a. way as to prevent any possibility of interfering with the circumferential elasticity, as-for example by stretching the goods to the ultimate while the seam is being made. As a result the addition of these ear-tabs impairs the set of the crown-portion very little.

One of the throat latchets is providedwith a button 43 adapted to be engaged by the button-hole 36 of the otherlatchet to fasten the `f will also be understood that many other changes can be made within the scope of my invention.

Havingthus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A knitted headwear article comprising a crown portion having an irregular lowerl edge exhibiting a depending V-shaped area at each side and having elasticity circumferentially of the wearers head, ,and a throati piece attached to said crown-piece in register' with said V-shaped areas, the seam by which said throat-piece is. attached following the contour of said V.v

2. A knitted headwear article simulating a helmet and comprising a crown-piece having an angular lower edge exhibiting diagonally racked sections producing depending angular areas adapted to register with the wearers ears, said areas separated by straight ahead knitted portions to space them from the forehead portion and a throatpiece seamed to said crown-piece in a direction which is generally circumferential 4of the wearers head, the seam being sinuous whereby the elasticity of the article in a circumferentialA directionzis preserved.

3. A knitted headwear article, comprising diagonally related rows of knitting forming a depending area at each side of the crown portion adapted'to cover the ears when the article is worn upon the head, said area, de-

fined between two downwardly converging oblique-margins and a throat-,piece secured to each side of said crown-piece in register with said oblique-margined areas,y said throat-piece seamed to said crown portion by seams which follow the angular contour of said oblique-margined areas..

4. A knitted headwear article, comprising diagonally related rows of knitting forming a depending oblique-margined area at each side of the crown portion adaptedl to cover the ears when the article is-worn upon the head, and a throat-piece. secured to eachV side of` said crown-piece and overlapping said oblique-margined. areas, said throatpiece being sewed to said crown-piece by a seam around the angular periphery ofv each depending area and by an elastic seam across thebase of each depending area, atleast said second seamV being of an elastic nature.

In testimonywhereof I hereunto ailixmy signature.4

LOUIS II. ENS'IEN. 

